EP0371218B1

EP0371218B1 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: EP0371218B1
Application number: EP89117148A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mitsuru Kawai; Masaru Yoshida; Yoshihiro Sasaki
Original assignee: Hirose Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hirose Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-04
Filing date: 1989-09-15
Publication date: 1995-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-15
Also published as: EP0371218A3; DE68921430T2; DE68921430D1; EP0371218A2; US4983127A; JPH0250983U

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector.
An electrical connector is described in Japanese U.M. Patent Application Kokai No. 61-184 285 which has been assigned to the same assignee as in this application. The eletrical connector has an insulating housing and L-shaped contact elements supported by the insulating housing. However, the bent portions between the front contact portions and the rear terminal portions are exposed to the atmosphrere. In addition, the metal shield fitted in the insulating housing to enclose the contact portions in semi-cylindrical.
The above electrical connector has the following disadvantages.

(1) The bent portions of contact elements are exposed because the metal shield makes it difficult to protect those portions. Consequently, dirt and dust accumulate between respective contact elements causing poor insulation or short circuit. In addition, a foreign object can strike and deform contact elements. Moreover, the exposed contact portion produces electromagnetic interference.
(2) The attachment members of the metal shield are not sufficient to prevent play within the insulating housing so that when a mating connector is plugged in and out repeatedly, the plugging force is transmitted to the insulating housing. The plugging force is further transmitted to the connection portions, causing a crack in the soldered joint, resulting in separation.

A further electrical connector is disclosed in US-A- 4 637 699. In this document, a connector socket is disclosed, which comprises a U-shaped shield cover mounted to cover the side surface of the insulating body. The shield cover is coupled and fixed to earth terminals and shield terminals are formed integrally with the shield cover at both end portions of the U-shape to extend beyond the terminal board. However, the prior art does neither disclose nor suggest any metal hood member having a recess of the insulation housing. Further there is neiter disclosed nor suggested any metal hood member having a pair of elongated contacts extending forwardly from an upper portion of said link section for contacting with a mating connector plug, and having a pair of attachment portions extending forwardly from a lower portion of the link section. The disclosed connecting pieces extend from marginal rear sides of the two leg portions of the shield cover and bend towards each other.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector in which the bent portions of contact elements are protected electrically and mechanically whereby the contact elements are completely covered over the entire length so that not only adherence to the contact elements of dirt and dust but also deformation of the contact elements by an external force are prevented.
In accordance with the invention the above object is accomplished by the features of claim 1. Advantageous features of embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the depending claims 2 to 7.
The block member according to the invention is fitted into the rear cavity of the insulating housing such that the terminal portions and the intermediate portions of contact elements are supported by the contact apertures and the lateral channels thereof. Thus, the contact elements are completely covered over the entire length.
Embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded, partially cutaway, perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional vie of the electrical connector mounted on a printed circuit board;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the electrical connector; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an electrical connector according to another embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1, the electrical connector 1 includes an insulating housing 100, a block member 200, contact elements 300, an end face protection member 400, a cylindrical shield member 500, and a metal hood member 600.
The insulating housing 100 is molded from an insulating material, such as a plastic, so as to have an annular recess 130 between a cylindrical contact support 120 and a housing body 110. The housing body 110 consists of a cubic front section 111 and a U-shaped rear section 112. Four radial seats 114 are provided on the front surface 113 of the front section 111 corresponding to the engaging or contact lugs 501 of the cylindrical shield member 500. A pair of latch slots 115 are provided on the upper corners of the front surface 113 to receive latch lances 402 of the end face protection member 400. A pair of T-shaped latch slots 116 are provided on the lower corners of the front surface 113 to receive latch lances 403 with a U-shaped contact 404 extending therefrom. The T-shaped latch slots 116 communicate with attachment slots 140 extending forward from the rear end so that the contacts 404 of the end face protection member 400 are connected electrically and mechanically to the contact portions 621 of the metal hood member 600.
The insulating housing 100 has a U-shaped recess 118 extending forward from the rear end 117 for receiving the rear portion of the hood member 600. This recess 118 communicates with a latch groove (not shown) into which projections 613 are pushed to secure the hood member 600 to the insulation housing 100. A rear cavity 119 is provided on the lower portion of the rear section 112 to receive the block member 200.
A number of contact apertures 121 are provided in the contact support 120 for supporting the contact sections 301 of contact elements 300. A pair of elongated indentations 122 are provided on the circumferential surface of the contact support 120 to receive the elongated contacts 610 of the hood member 600. These indentations communicate with the U-shaped recess 118. The annular recess 130 extends rearwardly from the front surface to receive the cylindrical shield member 500 and the shell member of a mating connector (not shown).
The block member 200 is molded from a dielectric material, such as a plastic, so as to have lateral channels 201 for receiving intermediate sections 302 of the contact elements 300 and a vertical apertures 202 for receiving connection sections 303 extending downwardly from the intermediate sections 302. Stepped lower edges 204 provided on opposite ends of a lower surface 203 of the block member 200 engage lower flanges 625 of the hood member 600.
As best shown in FIG. 2, each contact 300 is made by stamping and forming a spring conductive metal sheet so as to have the front contact section 301 for contact with the contact of a mating connector and the rear connection section 304 consisting of the intermediate section 302 extending rearwardly from the front contact section and the terminal section 303 extending downwardly from the intermediate section.
The end face protection member 400 is made by stamping and forming a thick metal plate so as to have a circular opening 401 at the center to receive the shell member of a mating connector. It has a square shape substantially identical with the front surface 113 of the insulating housing 100. A pair of latch lances 402 and a pair of latch lances 403 with a U-shaped contact 404 extend rearwardly from the upper and lower portions of the end face protection member 400, respectively.
The cylindrical shield member 500 is made by stamping and forming a spring metal thin sheet. Four engaging lugs 501 extend outwardly from the front edge of the shield member 500 in radial directions and rest in the radial seat 114 on the front end of the insulating housing 100. A plurality of cantilever contacts 502, which extend forwardly and inwardly, are provided on the circumferential surface of the shield member 500.
Like the shield member 500, the hood member 600 is made by stamping and forming a spring metal thin sheet to have a pair of elongated contacts 610 and a pair of attachment sections 620. The elongated contact 610 has a slightly inwardly bent free end 611 for shield contact with the metal shield (not shown) provided on the inside of a mating shell member. An opening 612 is provided behind the free end 611 to enhance the spring property of the elongated contact 610. A projection 613 is provided at the inside edge of the rear portion of elongated contact 610 to prevent the metal hood member from falling off from the insulating housing.
The attachment section 620 and the elongated contact 610 are integrated with a link section 630. A pair of latch lances 631 extend forwardly from the front edge of the link section 630 to be pushed into latch slots (not shown) of the insulating housing 100. A contact portion 621 extends forwardly from the attachment section 620 to be inserted into the attachment slot 140 of the insulating housing 100 for contact with the contact 404 of the end face protection member 500. A projection 622 is provided on the lower edge of the contact portion 621 to prevent the contact. portion from falling off from the attachment slot 140.
A leg member 623 extends downwardly from the attachment section 620 to be inserted into a mounting slot of the printed circuit board 20 and has a projection 624 to engage the mounting slot. This leg member 623 is secured with solder 30 to the ground circuit of a printed circuit board 20. A pair of flanges 625 extend inwardly from the lower edges of the attachment section 620 to engage with the stepped lower edges 204 of the block member 200 for support.
The electrical connector is assembled as follows.

(1) The contact portions 301 of L-shaped contacts 300 are inserted into the respective contact holes 121 on the rear section 112 of the insulating housing 100, while the cylindrical shield member 500 is inserted into the annular recess 130 on the front section 111 of the insulating housing 100.
(2) The end face protection member 400 is then attached by pushing the latch lances 402 and 403 into the respective latch slots 115 and 116. As best shown in FIG. 1, the block member 200 is fitted into the lower rear cavity 119 of the rear housing section 112 such that the terminal portions 303 of the contact elements 300 pass through the vertical apertures 202 and the intermediate portions 302 are fitted into the lateral channels 201.
(3) The metal hood member 600 is then joined to the insulating housing 100 so that the block member 200 is supported by the flanges 625 of the metal hood member 600 (FIG. 3).
(4) the electrical connector is then mounted on the printed circuit board 20 so that the terminal portions 303 of contacts 300 and the leg members 623 of the hood member 600 are soldered to the respective signal and ground circuits provided on the back of the board 20.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical connector according to another embodiment of the invention. The metal hood member 600 has a back plate 640 to enhance the shield effect. The other portions are the same as those of the hood member described above.
The terminal portions of L-shaped contacts are protected by the block member so that adherence to the contacts of dust and dirt is prevented whereby poor insulation and short circuit are prevented. An impact by an external object is blocked whereby deformation of the terminal portions is prevented. The metal hood encloses the terminal portions and enhances the electromagnetic interference protection. Moreover, repeated plugging in an out of a mating connector applies no or little load to the soldered joint so that there is little danger that the solder comes off from the board.

Claims

An electrical connector (1) comprising an insulating housing (100) with a front section (111) and a rear section (112), a metal hood member (600) and a plurality of contact elements (300) mounted within said insulating housing,
wherein
said contact elements (300) has a contact portion (301) for contact with a contact support (120) of mating contact element within said insulating housing (100), an intermediade portion (302) extending rearwardly from said contact portion (301), and a terminal portion (303) extending downwardly from said intermediate portion (302) through said insulating housing (100);
said insulating housing (100) has an annular recess (130) for receiving a mating shield member (500), a rear cavity (119) for receiving a block member (200) for supporting said intermediate portions (302) of said contact elements (309) with said hood member (600);
said hood member (600) has a pair of attachment sections (620) with a pair of leg members (623) to be connected to a ground circuit on a printed circuit board (20) and a pair of flanges (625) extending inwardly from lower edges of said attachment sections (620) for supporting said block member (200); a pair of elongated contacts (610) for shield contact with said metal shield member (500), and a link section (630) to be fitted into a recess (118) of the rear section (112) of said insulating housing (100); and that
said block member (200) has lateral channels (201) for receiving said intermediate portions (302) of said contact elements (300) and vertical apertures (202) through which said terminal portions (303) of contact elements (300) are pass.
The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said block member (200) having a plurality of lateral channels (201) for receiving said intermediate portions (302) of said contact and elements (300) and a plurality of vertical apertures (202) for receiving said terminal portions (303) of said contact elements (300), said block member being fitted into said rear cavity (119) so that said intermediate and terminal portions are fitted into said lateral channels (201) and said vertical apertures (202) respectively.
The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said block member (200) having a pair of stepped lower edges (204) such that when said hood member (600) is joined to said insulating housing (100), said flanges (625) of said hood member engage said lower edges to support said block member.
The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said metal hood member (600) has a back plate (640) so as to enhance its shielding effects.
The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said annular recess (130) of said insulating housing (100) extending rearwardly form a front face (113) of said front section (111), at least one radial seat (114) radially extending from said annular recess on said front face, and a pair of latch slots (116) extending rearwardly form a lower portion of said front face, and said rear section (112) having a pair of attachment slots (140) extending forwardly form a lower end portion of said rear section to communicate with said latch slots (116);
said mating shield member (500) is fitted in said annular recess (130) and has a least one contact lug (501) resting on said radial seat;
an end face protection member (400) having a pair of latch lances (403) with a U-shaped contact (404), which extend rearwardly form a lower portion thereof and are fitted into said latch slots for securing said end face protection member (400) to said insulating housing (100) such that said contact lug is brought into contact with said end face protection member (400).
The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein said pair of attachment sections (620) of said hood member (600) extending forwardly from a lower portion of said U-shaped link section (630) and having a contact portion (621) at its free end such that when said attachement sections are fitted into said attachment slots (140), said contact portions are brought into contact with said U-shaped contacts (404) of said end face protection member (400), thereby completing electrical continuity from said mating shield member (500) to said end face protection member (400) and to said hood member (600).
The electrical connector according to one or more of the above-mentioned claims, wherein said block member (200) having a substantially rectangular shape and being fitted into said rear cavity to fully cover said rear cavity (119) when mated with said insulating housing (100) so that said intermediate and terminal portions (302, 303) are fitted into said lateral channels (201) and said vertical apertures (202), respectively, and fully protected.